Theme: Building Blocks

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Charles W. Hostler Student Center, American University of Beirut (AUB)
Bliss Street
Beirut, Beyrouth, 1107-2020
Lebanon

Arij Daou

Arij Daou is a Lebanese neuroscientist and mathematician. An Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at AUB. His lab at AUB is focused on exploring neural sequence generation in the brain and the temporal precision that neurons in specific regions of the brain exhibit during complex motor behaviors.

Carla Maria Emanuel Issa

Carla Maria Emanuel Issa is a researcher and analyst specializing in the political affairs of the Middle East with a focus on international relations theories as a graduate student within the Political Studies and Public Administration Department at The American University of Beirut.

Joumana Haddad

Joumana Haddad is an author, journalist, and human rights activist. Known for her cultural and social activism, she has been selected as one of the world’s 100 most powerful Arab women four years in a row for her cultural and social activism. She worked at An Nahar since 1997, heading the cultural pages from 2005 till 2017, and was the administrator of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction from 2007 till 2011. Speaking seven languages, Joumana is a polyglot and has published several works of poetry and prose, widely acclaimed by critics. Her books have been translated to many languages and published abroad. Her work has led her to interview many international writers, such as Umberto Eco, Paul Auster, Jose Saramago, Peter Handke, Elfriede Jelinek, amongst others.

Mario Macaroun

Mario specializes in the intersection of Security, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Operations and Legal Compliance. A member of the French security think-tank Cercle K2, he is a part of a team that provides private or public institutions with a platform for thought, discussion, and action addressing questions on economic development, human resources, cybercrime, economic, and financial security and the environment. His background combines experience within the humanitarian field and the Oil & Gas industry, both locally and internationally.

Nora Boustany

Nora is an award-winning correspondent and columnist. A triple nominee for the Pulitzer Prize and a one-time finalist for her coverage of the Lebanon war, she worked for The Washington Post for 30 years. Her special focus on the suffering of civilians in conflict, the disintegration of communities and the plight of refugees guided her reporting throughout has won her several awards including the George Polk Award for foreign reporting, the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award and Bronze Medal for foreign correspondence. She now teaches journalism at The American University of Beirut hoping to form future journalists and to train them to defend the truth, scrutinize those in power with determination, curiosity, and professionalism and to give a voice to the voiceless, drawing on her experience.

Rania Halawi

Rania Halawi is the founder and curator of Art In Motion. For most of her professional career, she held director positions in both marketing and event planning. She was one of the leading forces behind Lebanon 2000, placing the event under an international spotlight and gaining industry acclaim. Through her global vision, Rania brings her proficiency and communication expertise to Art in Motion, combining her professional talents with her great passion for art. Art In Motion’s mission is to create a cultural dialogue through art, between local and international circuits. By positioning art within the public sphere, Art in Motion aims to ensure that art gains greater visibility and accessibility, in order to reach wide audiences from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Rima Kaddoura

Rima Kaddoura is a 22-year-old AUB graduate with a BSC in mathematics. Currently, she is studying to obtain her Master’s of Public Health in epidemiology and biostatistics. Visually impaired all her life, Rima strives to break down barriers caused by bias and stigma to show the world how capable she is. Moving from her home in Canada to AUB, she spends her time working as the vice president of the Empowerment Through Integration (ETI) club, to further her goal of changing misconceptions around disability as well as empower others with disabilities.

Tarek Gherbal

Tarek is responsible for the treatment of injured athletes, onsite intervention, and rehabilitation programs at AUB’s Charles Hostler Student Center, the coordinator of the IFPA (USA) program at AUB, and a Master Instructor of Sports Medicine assigned to the Middle East region. Between 2007 and 2011, Tarek was in charge of the Lebanese National Football team during the Asian qualifier rounds to the Beijing Olympics 2008, FIFA World Cup 2010, and AFC Asian Cup 2011.